Photo: WENN
The BBC has announced its plans for Glastonbury 2013, promising viewers their broadest and best festival coverage to date.
People at home will be able to watch 120 performances over the three days in June on TV, Radio, the red button, online as well as on mobile devices, culminating in 250 hours of live music coverage over the weekend.
2013 will see The BBC fully incorporate live streaming for the first time, as viewers will be able to pick between six stages including The Pyramid, John Peel, Park, West Holts, Other, and BBC Introducing either at home or on the go, a move which has led the broadcaster to dub this year 'The first truly digital Glastonbury'.
Mark Friend, BBC Controller for radio and television made a statement on the increased coverage earlier today; "Just as we did with sport at the Olympics, our ambition this year is to bring our audiences even closer to the music they love at Glastonbury, with access to all the BBC’s coverage - live and on-demand - at home, at work and on the go."
"Not only will this be the first truly digital Glastonbury, this will also be the first mobile Glastonbury – we expect mobile and tablet viewing and listening to reach unprecedented levels, particularly over the weekend"
This year's festival will be headlined by Arctic Monkeys, The Rolling Stones and Mumford and Sons between Friday 28th-Sunday 30th June, with tickets selling out in record time back in October last year.
Mumford and Sons will close the festival on Sunday 30th June
Along with the technical developments, The BBC have also announced more presenters to account for the increase in coverage. This year's hosts include Chris Evans, Steve Lamacq, Nick Grimshaw, Gemma Cairney, Lauren Laverne, Dermot O’Leary, Mark Radcliffe, Jo Whiley and Craig Charles among others.
Glastonbury founder and organiser Michael Eavis has come out to praise The BBC, who have covered the event every year since 1997; 'The BBC have stuck with us through thick and thin since 1997 and they’ve earned their stripes the hard way."
"It’s been quite a journey since 97 and to have a complete record of what we’ve been up to over the years is music history gold dust.”
Coverage of this year's Glastonbury Festival will begin on Friday 28th June, and will run across BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Three, BBC Four, Radio 1 and 1Xtra, Radio 2 and 6 Music over the weekend.
Below: 20 Gigwise favourites from the Glastonbury 2013 lineup
